Martavis Bryant's one-year suspension strips Pittsburgh of an electrifying playmaker who piled up 17 total touchdowns over the past two seasons. The Steelers will miss his red-zone prowess, but HC Mike Tomlin views the loss as an opportunity for someone else to emerge. Per Tomlin, the Steelers are preparing for an open competition between Wheaton, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Sammie Coates for the role of Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver across from All-Pro Antonio Brown. "Everybody's got a chance to compete for that job," Tomlin said. As NFL.com suggests, Wheaton feels like the clear-cut front-runner, but the coach wasn't shy about suggesting that second-year wideout Sammie Coates was a candidate to break out in 2016. Coates could, of course, break out from the No. 3 spot even with Wheaton, who drew heavy praise from QB Ben Roethlisberger last August, starting ahead of him. Whatever the case, the competition will be something we all need to keep an eye on.

Markus Wheaton 2015 Outlook

As ESPN.com notes, the Steelers have not labeled Wheaton the primary slot receiver. Wheaton said he played outside and inside “evenly” last year. He likes both spots and isn’t sure what’s going to happen this season. But the Steelers’ positional depth is such that Wheaton inside makes too much sense, especially with his 5-11 frame and quick feet. Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and rookie Sammie Coates are natural outside guys. But OC Todd Haley’s offense places a premium on the short passing game. Wheaton has noticed the evolution of the position over the years, how slot receivers can rack up receptions with a good quarterback. “That’s where a lot of balls are thrown, short routes,” Wheaton said. “I think those guys on the inside do end up having a lot of catches. Definitely. ...” Brown will always get his yards, but the Steelers’ offense took off in the final eight weeks when Wheaton, Bryant and Lance Moore had enhanced roles and Ben Roethlisberger averaged 322 yards per game. Don’t be surprised if Wheaton makes a little more hay this year working the slot and benefiting from opposing defenses focusing on Brown and Bryant.

Markus Wheaton 2014 Outlook

The Steelers lost three of their top four receivers in the past year in Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery. Antonio Brown is the one constant in the new group and not a bad place to start. Everyone else is virtually new. The Steelers signed veteran Lance Moore in March. They also signed disappointing former Oakland first-rounder Darrius Heyward-Bey as a free agent. They drafted Martavis Bryant of Clemson in the fourth round. But the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes Markus Wheaton, their third-round pick in 2013 who caught six passes as a rookie (three in his only start in the fourth game of the season) is the favorite to be the starter. He missed four games with a hand injury and had surgery after the season. Moore will take Cotchery’s spot in the slot and it’s possible he could start when they deploy two receivers. But they need someone to play that split end or “X” spot -- the one formerly occupied by Wallace, then Sanders. Fantasy owners will want to make sure the bigger Bryant doesn’t move ahead of Wheaton before drafting him.